Pitting implement



March 12, 1935. A. R. MELLOR 1,994,366

FITTING IMPLEMENT Filed Aug. 14, 1933 F17' ff 94 ai R Meaf.

Y Patented Mar. v12, 1935KV maar@ garant orgies FITTING IlVIPLEMENT Adrien R. Mellor, Beaumont, Calif.

Application August 14,

1 Claim.

'I'his invention relates to an implement for pitting fruit, and particularly peaches of the cling type.

It is particularly aimed to provide av novel means whereby the pitting operation may be effected without the necessity of twisting the wrist, more expeditiously, and with the expenditure of less energy, and which eliminates the danger of a blade slipping through the peach and into the hand. The invention is capable of both home and commercial use.

'I'he more speciiic objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration ofthe description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:-

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the implement in the condition in which it is adapted to be engaged with a peach for a pitting operation,

Figure 2 is an elevation taken at a right angle to Figure l,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View in cross section taken on the line 3-3 of vFigure 2,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. Y

Referring specifically to the drawing, the tool or implement utilizes a pair of levers 10A and 11, preferably U-shape in cross section as shown and pivoted together by a bolt or the like as at 12. Said levers l0 and 11 are normally maintained separated at their free ends and urged to that position by means of a coil spring 13 surrounding bolts 12 and having terminals 14 and 15 disposed within and abutting the levers l0 and 11, respectively. Such levers, however, may be secured when in relatively close relation, when not in use, through the engagement of a latch 16 loosely pivoted to the free end of lever l0 and engageable in an opening 17 in the free end or" the other lever.

Said lever 11 has a thumb abutment 18 integral therewith and a hollow terminal at 19. A hollow extension member20 has an enlarged or bell portion 21 which removably telescopes over the terminal 19, being held in place through the medium of a removable screw 22, passing through the bell and through the hollow terminal. A screw23 at a right angle to the screw 22, passes removably through the bell 21 and into the ad jacent wall of terminal 19.

Journaled in theextension 20 is a Vshaft 24 immovable from the extension in a direction away 1933, Serial No. 685,092

(Cl. 14S-31) from the pivot 12, since it contains a pinion 25 removably secured thereon by cotters as at 25 and which pinion 25 is located within the bell and of greater diameter than the smaller diameter of the extension.

Integral with the section or lever 10, is a geared segment 26 which moves through a slot or groove 27 in said extension 20. The teeth of said segment 27 are in mesh with the teeth ci the pinion 25, and the lower end of shaft 24 is journaled in the adjacent end wall 28 of the terminal 19.

Fixed on the outer end of the extension 20 is a crescent-shaped blade 29 being arcuate both longitudinally and transversely and pointed at its outer or free end. The side edges of said fixed blade 29 are blunt except for a distance of about one-half an inch from the free end or point along opposite side edges, that is, between the point and the line shown at A-A. A movable or pitting blade 30 longitudinally conforms to the curvature of the fixed blade 29, being, however, much narrower and substantially of the shape shown, with its opposite side edges 3l sharpened throughout their length. Such blade 30 is rigidly connected at one end to the shaft 24 and at its other end is pivotally connected as at 32 adjacent the point of the Xed blade 29.

In order that the device cannot slip when held in the hand and during a pitting operation, each of the levers is preferably provided with a roughened or serrated surface as at 33. In using the device, the latch 16 is detached from opening 17 and the parts are then in the position shown in the drawing, that is, with the free ends of the levers 10 and 11 separated. The tool is then grasped in either hand with the thumb engaging the abutment 18. Thereupon the tool is thrust into the stem end of the peach and as closely as possible to and in conformity with the shape of the pit, thereupon the levers 10 and 1l are pressed together, automatically and rapidly through the rack teeth 26 and pinion 25, and shaft 24, rotating the pitting blade 30 slightly more than a complete circle accordingly separating the pit from the peach.

It will be noted that ordinarily the blade 30 is rotated centrally of and within the fixed blade 29 thus being protected by the same.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise or exact arrangement of parts illustrated and described, as details of construction rnay be modied and rearranged without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope being limited only by the terms of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A pitting implement of the class describedv comprising a lever having a hollow terminal provided with an end wall, a hollow extension mem- 5 ber telescoped over said terminal and secured at its end engaging the terminal, a. gear on the Y shaft located in the bell-shaped portion of the extension, said extension having a slot, a lever pivoted to the rst lever, means on the rst 1ever engaging with said gear through the medium of said slot, and a tine-like arcuate pitting blade carried by Vsaid shaft and superposed on the first mentioned blade.

ADRIEN R. MELLOR. 

